Dynamic password generation

ABSTRACT

Providing access to electronic information. A first password string and a rule for configuring and generating a second password string from the first password string, are received from a user. The rule specifies a dynamic element to insert at a position in the first password string, based on first contextual information associated with the user. The value of the specified dynamic element is determined based on second contextual information associated with the user. Upon receiving a third password string, the second password string is configured and generated from the first password string, based on the rule, by: selecting the specified dynamic element based on the first contextual information; inserting the selected dynamic element in the first password string; and determining the value of the selected dynamic element based on the second contextual information. If the third password string matches the second password string, access to the electronic information is granted.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to information security,and more particularly to automatic password generation and use.

Electronic information is often accessed using security credentials suchas passwords. Maintaining password security in light of increasingthreats is a challenge. One common way to increase password security isto require users to select passwords having a minimum strengthrequirement, for example, at least 8 characters, at least one number, atleast one uppercase letter, and/or at least one special character.However, methods exist that may defeat such static passwords, includingbrute force attacks, social engineering, remote access tools (RATs) andkeyloggers, phishing, and rainbow tables.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer-implementedmethod, system, and computer program product for providing access toelectronic information.

In an embodiment of the invention, a first password string associatedwith a user, and a rule for configuring and generating a second passwordstring from the first password string, are received from the user. Therule specifies a dynamic element to insert at a specified position inthe first password string, based on first contextual informationassociated with the user. The value of the specified dynamic element isdetermined based on second contextual information associated with theuser. When a third password string associated with the user is received,the second password string is configured and generated from the firstpassword string, based on the rule, by: selecting the specified dynamicelement based on the first contextual information; inserting theselected dynamic element in the first password string at the specifiedposition; and determining the value of the selected dynamic elementbased on the second contextual information. If the third password stringmatches the second password string, access to the electronic informationis granted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a dynamic password system, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary user interface for configuring rulesin generating or using dynamic passwords, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary user interface for generating orusing a dynamic password, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a user interface for using a dynamic password,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting operational steps of a dynamic passwordprogram, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a further flowchart depicting further operational steps of adynamic password program, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device, according toan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 depicts abstraction model layers of the cloud computingenvironment of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Existing password systems are limited, for at least the followingreasons: they are static and not automatically changed; changes requireuser input; passwords remain fixed length, even if they employ specialcharacters; passwords remain static for a period of time;computer-generated passwords are usually complex strings that aredifficult to remember; and increased password complexity may necessitateusers recording the passwords on a medium (for example, pen and paper,or in unencrypted electronic notes or files), making unauthorized accessto the password data more likely. Static passwords are typically storedin hashed form and not as plaintext, however a concerted effort, forexample, using a rainbow table, may be able to crack such a password. Apassword policy that goes beyond stored, static passwords would provideadded protection from security breaches.

A dynamic password allows a user to add dynamic elements to a staticpassword based, for example, on contextual information associated withthe user. The use of a dynamic password aims to make the static passwordmore secure. Contextual elements that could be generated for inclusionin a dynamic password include the user's location, pin code, state, andcurrent time, date, month, day of the week, etc. Rather than using astatic password for authentication, the user enters a password thatdepends on the values of the dynamic elements, according to predefinedpatterns and/or rules. The server process that performs passwordauthentication uses the same patterns and rules to generate the correctpassword and verifies that the user password and the server passwordmatch. Thus, a password entered one day may differ from a passwordentered by the same user for the same portal on another day.Nevertheless, the user will be authenticated as long as the patterns andrules that were established by the user are adhered to. This approachwould defeat most current password cracking methods, as passwordsgenerated in this manner may not have a constant length or type and arenot stored in a form that represents a static string.

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer-implementedmethod, computer program product, and system for dynamic passwordgeneration. A user establishes a dynamic password, based on a first,static password string and one or more patterns and/or string generationrules, which are then stored in a password datastore. At login, the userenters a password that complies with the established dynamic password. Aserver process that performs password authentication receives thedynamic password from the user, retrieves the stored static passwordfrom the password datastore and converts it to a final password, basedon the associated patterns and/or rules. If the password the userentered and the final password generated by the server match, the useris authenticated.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a dynamic password system 100,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Dynamicpassword system 100 includes computing device 110, shown hosting dynamicpassword program 112, password datastore 120, and client computingdevice 126, all interconnected over a network 130. FIG. 1 provides onlyan illustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitationswith regard to the environments in which different embodiments may beimplemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as recited by the claims.

Computing device 110 represents the computing environment or platformthat hosts dynamic password program 112. In various embodiments,computing device 110 may be a laptop computer, netbook computer,personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, or any programmableelectronic device capable of hosting dynamic password program 112,described below, and communicating with client computing device 126 vianetwork 130, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Computingdevice 110 may include internal and external hardware components, asdepicted and described in further detail below with reference to FIG. 7.In other embodiments, computing device 110 may be implemented in a cloudcomputing environment, as described in relation to FIGS. 8 and 9, below.

Password datastore 120 represents a store of data associated with userpasswords, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.For example, password datastore 120 may include a database of dynamicpassword patterns and rules associated with specific users. Passworddatastore 120 may reside, for example, on computer readable storagemedia 908 (FIG. 7).

In an exemplary embodiment, client computing device 126 represents asource of user password data and related instructions that is receivedby computing device 110. Client computing device 126 may includegraphical user interface 128, which a user may employ to generate anduse a dynamic password. In various embodiments, graphical user interface128 may be, for example, a web browser that receives web pagestransmitted by computing device 110, or a dedicated application thatinterfaces with dynamic password program 112 on computing device 110. Inother embodiments, client computing device 126 may represent anotherdevice that interfaces with computing device 110 and is required to usepassword authentication.

In various embodiments of the invention, a client computing device 126may be, for example, a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbookcomputer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), or a smart phone. In general, a client computing device126 may be any programmable electronic device capable of communicatingwith computing device 110 via network 130, and of supportingfunctionality as required by one or more embodiments of the invention. Aclient computing device 126 may include internal and external hardwarecomponents as depicted and described in further detail below withreference to FIG. 7.

Network 130 can be, for example, a local area network (LAN), atelecommunications network, a wide area network (WAN), such as theInternet, a virtual local area network (VLAN), or any combination thatcan include wired, wireless, or optical connections. In general, network130 can be any combination of connections and protocols that willsupport communications between computing device 110, password datastore120, client computing device 126, and the operation of dynamic passwordprogram 112, in dynamic password system 100, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the invention, computing device 110 includes dynamicpassword program 112. Dynamic password program 112 may further includepassword generator 114, pattern/rule module 116, and authenticationmodule 118.

Dynamic password program 112 operates generally to receive informationassociated with login credentials of a user, including a static passwordstring and one or more patterns and/or string generation rules, which itstores in password datastore 120. When a user subsequently enters apassword as part of a login procedure, dynamic password program 112retrieves the static password string, patterns, and rules associatedwith the user and uses them to generates a second password. If thepassword entered by the user and the generated second password match,the user may be granted access to the user's account.

Password generator 114 operates to generate a dynamic password from astatic password string according to predefined patterns and/or stringgeneration rules associated with a user, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, as described below.

Pattern/rule module 116 allows a user to define the patterns and/orrules that will be used with a dynamic password, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, as described below. Pattern/rulemodule 116 may store the patterns and/or rules in password datastore 120and associate them with the user.

In one embodiment of the invention, a user defines patterns and/or rulesfor a dynamic password via pattern/rule module 116 by using a GUI, suchas those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, designed for this purpose. In anotherembodiment, pattern/rule module 116 may provide the user with one ormore patterns that should be used when entering a password. For example,a user may log onto computing device 110 via client computing device126, and enable dynamic password generation via a user setting. Once thesetting is enabled, the user invokes pattern/rule module 116 to definethe patterns and/or rules that will be used with the dynamic password.

A pattern refers to a predefined data element associated with a user,for example, contextual data, which is to be inserted at a specifiedposition in a static password string. The specified position is referredto as a reference character position. A pattern is a simple example of astring generation rule, which is described in more detail below. Forexample, a user may define a pattern via the rule “sher{TIME}lock,”indicating that the current time value (at login) is to be inserted inthe name “sherlock,” at the character position where the expression{TIME} appears in the dynamic password. Alternatively, the user maychoose a specific, constant string value to use in the defined pattern.

Table 1 presents additional example password patterns that may bedefined by the user:

TABLE 1 EXAMPLE PASSWORD PATTERNS PATTERN PASSWORD COMMENT sher{DAY}locksherMONDAYlock User logs in on Monday sher{GRIDB}lock sher87lock Bankprovides grid card to the user (see below) sher{PINCODE}locksher560071lock User supplies pin sherlock{STATE}{PINCODE}sherlockVERMONT560071 User supplies state and pinIn the above examples, the length, type, and patterns vary. Thisinconsistency prevents a hacker from guessing the actual password, basedon assumptions about the length, type, or other characteristics of thepassword.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,authentication module 118 receives a password entered by a user,compares the password with another password generated by passwordgenerator 114, and authenticates the user if the two passwords match.

For example, suppose that a user wishes to login to an account on abanking website at 4:20 p.m. via client computing device 126. The useris prompted for a user ID and a password. When prompted for a password,the user enters “sher1620lock”. The password is then transmitted toauthentication module 118 of dynamic password program 112, which in turnqueries password datastore 120 to retrieve any predefined dynamicpassword patterns and/or rules associated with the user. Passwordgenerator 114 then generates the actual password, based on the retrievedpatterns and/or rules. In this example, the pattern stored issher{TIME}lock. So, since the user logged in at 4:20 p.m., the passwordgenerated by password generator 114 will be sher1620lock. Authenticationmodule 118 checks for a match between the generated password and theuser-entered password. If they match, the user is authenticated and maybe given access to the account.

Whenever a user defines a pattern or rule for a dynamic password,pattern/rule module 116 may store the pattern or rule in passworddatastore 120 and associate it with the user. When authentication module118 is subsequently called on to authenticate the user, it recognizesthat a dynamic password is being used and requests that passwordgenerator 114 retrieve the stored rules and patterns in order togenerate the actual password. Authentication module 118 allows access tothe user's account, provided the received password and the generatedpassword match.

Pattern/rule module 116 may facilitate the process of establishingpatterns or rules by providing a graphical user interface (GUI) tocustomize the patterns which will be included in passwords. FIGS. 2 and3 depict example GUIs that may allow a user to establish a dynamicpassword, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary user interface 200 for configuringrules in generating or using dynamic passwords, according to anembodiment of the invention. Through exemplary user interface 200, auser can create custom rules and determine when and under whatcircumstances they should be applied.

FIG. 2 illustrates how a user might define an example rule via exemplaryuser interface 200, according to an embodiment of the invention. Newpassword pane 210 allows a user to assign a name to a rule, for example,Rule1, and to enable it or disable it. Specify conditions pane 220allows the user to specify conditions under which Rule1, when enabled,is to be used in generating a dynamic password. Specify actions pane 230allows the user to specify which actions are to be taken when Rule1 isencountered. In this case, Rule1 specifies a substitution string. Therule specified is: If the (login) time is ‘even’, i.e., the number ofminutes is an even number, the user is expected to provide “@123$” as asubstitute string. For example, the user may be required, forauthentication purposes, to replace the expression {Rule1}, as shown inFIG. 3, below, with the string “@123$” wherever it appears in a dynamicpassword, provided the login time is even. Other, more complicated,rules are also contemplated. For example, a rule may be: If the locationis Phoenix and the time is even, or the location is Boston and the timeis odd, use the string “$123@”.

In certain embodiments of the invention, a rule may be generated by auser from dynamic elements, as described above. In other embodiments, arule may be selected from a predefined set of rules. For example, a listof predefined rules may be presented to a user in a dropdown list in aGUI.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary user interface for generating andusing a dynamic password, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. With the exemplary user interface a user may create adynamic password that includes a static part and one or more dynamicelements. In an embodiment of the invention, each dynamic element may bedefined via a rule or pattern. The static part and the dynamic elementsmay be stored in password datastore 120.

FIG. 3 illustrates how a dynamic password, incorporating both a patternand a rule, may be defined. In this example, the static password stringis sherlockStatic1234. The expression {TIME} represents a pattern thatshould be replaced by the current time at login. The expression {Rule1}represents a predefined string generation rule, such as the rule definedin FIG. 2, which specifies that if the time is even, then the expression{Rule1} should be replaced by the string “@123$” at the correspondingreference character position.

In various embodiments, patterns and/or rules for dynamic passwords mayspecify contextual content such as locations or pin codes, constantstrings, or application-specific data such as grid values. Gridauthentication is a method of securing user logins by requiring the userto enter values from specific cells in a grid whose content should beonly accessible to the user and the service provider. The grid istypically on a card and consists of letters and numbers in rows andcolumns. For example, a rule could specify that under certain conditionsconfigured by the user, a dynamic password should include or consist ofa sequence of characters selected from grid cells that are specifiedduring authentication. A rule may also specify the use of a one-timepassword (OTP), if the user is given an option to generate an OTP viathe application. For example, a rule could specify that under certainconditions configured by the user, a dynamic password should include orconsist of an OTP.

The user may also be presented with the various options on the loginscreen to simplify the process of providing the password while loggingin, as shown in FIG. 4. For example, the login GUI might display thetime, place, user's pin code, etc., and the user could use these togenerate the currently correct password.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example user interface for using a dynamicpassword, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Auser may log into an account through a login interface using dynamicallygenerated information, based on predefined patterns and/or rules. Forexample, the dynamically generated information may include location,time, pin code, etc. The login information may be used by authenticationmodule 118 to authenticate the user.

FIG. 5 is flowchart depicting various operational steps performed bycomputing device 110 in generating a dynamic password, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. A user enters a first, staticpassword string and one or more string generation rules, withcorresponding reference character positions, through a user interface ona client computing device 126. Client computing device 126 transmits thepassword string, rules, and reference character positions to dynamicpassword program 112 on computing device 110. Dynamic password program112 receives the static password string (step 510), and the stringgeneration rules, with corresponding reference character positions (step512). Dynamic password program 112 associates the static password stringand the string generation rules, with corresponding reference characterpositions, with the user (step 514). Dynamic password program 112 storesthe static password string, the string generation rules, and thecorresponding reference character positions in password datastore 120(step 516).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting various operational steps performed bycomputing device 110 in authenticating a dynamic password, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. A password string associated with auser is received (step 610). Password generator 114 retrieves a stored,static password string associated with the user from password datastore120 (step 612). Password generator 114 identifies one or more stringgeneration rules associated with the user, along with correspondingreference character positions (step 614). Password generator 114generates further password strings using the string generation rules(step 616). Password generator 114 generates a final password string byconcatenating the first string with the further password strings at thereference character positions (step 618). Authentication module 118compares the password string received from the user with the finalpassword string, and, if they match, authenticates the user (step 620).

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram 900 of components of computing device 110(FIG. 1), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Itshould be appreciated that FIG. 7 provides only an illustration of oneimplementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to theenvironments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Manymodifications to the depicted environment may be made.

Computing device 110 may include one or more processors 902, one or morecomputer-readable RAMs 904, one or more computer-readable ROMs 906, oneor more computer readable storage media 908, device drivers 912,read/write drive or interface 914, network adapter or interface 916, allinterconnected over a communications fabric 918. Communications fabric918 may be implemented with any architecture designed for passing dataand/or control information between processors (such as microprocessors,communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheraldevices, and any other hardware components within a system.

One or more operating systems 910, and one or more application programs928, for example, dynamic password program 112 (FIG. 1), are stored onone or more of the computer readable storage media 908 for execution byone or more of the processors 902 via one or more of the respective RAMs904 (which typically include cache memory). In the illustratedembodiment, each of the computer readable storage media 908 may be amagnetic disk storage device of an internal hard drive, CD-ROM, DVD,memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, asemiconductor storage device such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, flash memory orany other computer-readable tangible storage device that can store acomputer program and digital information.

Computing device 110 may also include a R/W drive or interface 914 toread from and write to one or more portable computer readable storagemedia 926. Application programs 928 on client computing device and/orcomputing device 110 may be stored on one or more of the portablecomputer readable storage media 926, read via the respective R/W driveor interface 914 and loaded into the respective computer readablestorage media 908.

Computing device 110 may also include a network adapter or interface916, such as a TCP/IP adapter card or wireless communication adapter(such as a 4G wireless communication adapter using OFDMA technology).Application programs 928 on computing device 110 may be downloaded tothe computing device from an external computer or external storagedevice via a network (for example, the Internet, a local area network orother wide area network or wireless network) and network adapter orinterface 916. From the network adapter or interface 916, the programsmay be loaded onto computer readable storage media 908. The network maycomprise copper wires, optical fibers, wireless transmission, routers,firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers.

Computing device 110 may also include a display screen 920, a keyboardor keypad 922, and a computer mouse or touchpad 924. Device drivers 912interface to display screen 920 for imaging, to keyboard or keypad 922,to computer mouse or touchpad 924, and/or to display screen 920 forpressure sensing of alphanumeric character entry and user selections.The device drivers 912, R/W drive or interface 914 and network adapteror interface 916 may comprise hardware and software (stored on computerreadable storage media 908 and/or ROM 906).

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of theinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

Based on the foregoing, a computer system, method, and computer programproduct have been disclosed. However, numerous modifications andsubstitutions can be made without deviating from the scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the present invention has been disclosedby way of example and not limitation.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description of cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 8, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 8 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 9, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 8) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 9 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and dynamic password program 96.

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations are possible. Such modification and variations that may beapparent to a person skilled in the art of the invention are intended tobe included within the scope of the invention as defined by theaccompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system for providing access toelectronic information, the system comprising: a computer, acomputer-readable storage medium, and program instructions stored on thecomputer-readable storage medium, which when executed cause the computerto perform a method comprising: receiving, by a first computer from asecond computer over a network, in response to information entered intoa user interface on the second computer, a first password stringassociated with a user and a rule for configuring and generating asecond password string from the first password string, wherein the rulespecifies a dynamic element to insert at a specified position in thefirst password string, based on first contextual information associatedwith the user, and wherein a value of the specified dynamic element isdetermined based on second contextual information associated with theuser; in response to receiving, by the first computer from the secondcomputer over the network, a third password string associated with theuser, via information entered into the user interface on the secondcomputer: configuring and generating, by the first computer, the secondpassword string from the first password string, based on the receivedrule, by: selecting the specified dynamic element based on the firstcontextual information associated with the user; inserting the selecteddynamic element in the first password string at the specified position;and determining the value of the selected dynamic element based on thesecond contextual information associated with the user; and in responseto determining, by the first computer, that the third password stringmatches the second password string, granting, by the first computer, thesecond computer access to the electronic information.
 2. A computersystem in accordance with claim 1, the method further comprising:storing, by the first computer, the first password string and the rulefor configuring and generating a second password string from the firstpassword string in a datastore.
 3. A computer system in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the first computer is selected from the groupconsisting of a mobile computing device and a cloud computing node.
 4. Acomputer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second computeris selected from the group consisting of a mobile computing device and acloud computing node.
 5. A computer system in accordance with claim 1,wherein the rule for configuring and generating a second password stringincludes a string generation rule for generating a string at acorresponding reference character position of the first password string,based on the second contextual information associated with the user. 6.A computer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the firstcontextual information associated with the user and the secondcontextual information associated with the user comprise, respectively,one or more information selected from the group consisting of: alocation, a time, a date, a month, a day of the week, a pin code, apredefined constant character string, a character sequence based on agrid card, and a one-time password.
 7. A computer system in accordancewith claim 5, wherein the string generation rule includes a pattern,which specifies that second contextual information associated with theuser is to be inserted at the corresponding reference character positionof the first password string.
 8. A computer system in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the rule for configuring and generating a secondpassword string comprises a rule selected from the group consisting of:a rule defined by the user and a rule selected from a predefined set ofrules.
 9. A computer program product for providing access to electronicinformation, the program product comprising: a computer-readable storagemedium and program instructions stored on the computer-readable storagemedium, the program instructions, when executed by a computer, cause thecomputer to perform a method comprising: receiving, by a first computerfrom a second computer over a network, in response to informationentered into a user interface on the second computer, a first passwordstring associated with a user and a rule for configuring and generatinga second password string from the first password string, wherein therule specifies a dynamic element to insert at a specified position inthe first password string, based on first contextual informationassociated with the user, and wherein a value of the specified dynamicelement is determined based on second contextual information associatedwith the user; in response to receiving, by the first computer from thesecond computer over the network, a third password string associatedwith the user, via information entered into the user interface on thesecond computer: configuring and generating, by the first computer, thesecond password string from the first password string, based on thereceived rule, by: selecting the specified dynamic element based on thefirst contextual information associated with the user; inserting theselected dynamic element in the first password string at the specifiedposition; and determining the value of the selected dynamic elementbased on the second contextual information associated with the user; andin response to determining, by the first computer, that the thirdpassword string matches the second password string, granting, by thefirst computer, the second computer access to the electronicinformation.
 10. A computer program product in accordance with claim 9,the method further comprising: storing, by the first computer, the firstpassword string and the rule for configuring and generating a secondpassword string from the first password string in a datastore.
 11. Acomputer program product in accordance with claim 9, wherein the firstcomputer is selected from the group consisting of a mobile computingdevice and a cloud computing node.
 12. A computer program product inaccordance with claim 9, wherein the second computer is selected fromthe group consisting of a mobile computing device and a cloud computingnode.
 13. A computer program product in accordance with claim 9, whereinthe rule for configuring and generating a second password stringincludes a string generation rule for generating a string at acorresponding reference character position of the first password string,based on the second contextual information associated with the user. 14.A computer program product in accordance with claim 9, wherein the firstcontextual information associated with the user and the secondcontextual information associated with the user comprise, respectively,one or more information selected from the group consisting of: alocation, a time, a date, a month, a day of the week, a pin code, apredefined constant character string, a character sequence based on agrid card, and a one-time password.
 15. A computer program product inaccordance with claim 13, wherein the string generation rule includes apattern, which specifies that second contextual information associatedwith the user is to be inserted at the corresponding reference characterposition of the first password string.
 16. A computer program product inaccordance with claim 9, wherein the rule for configuring and generatinga second password string comprises a rule selected from the groupconsisting of: a rule defined by the user and a rule selected from apredefined set of rules.